Bill Esterson MP praises work of Maghull researcher recognised in Parliament

BILL Esterson MP has praised the work of a research associate from Maghull who was recognised in Parliament at the finals of a competition celebrating science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Dr Josephine Moran, a biological sciences researcher at the University of Manchester, was shortlisted as a finalist of the STEM for BRITAIN competition 2022 for her research about how the deadly bacteria Listeria avoids immune systems, beating hundreds of other applicants. Jo attended Parliament to present her infection biology research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges.

STEM for BRITAIN is a scientific poster competition organised by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee which aims to give members of the Houses of Parliament insight into current STEM research by early career researchers across the UK. The finals took place at the House of Commons, on Monday, 7 March 2022.

Mr Esterson, MP for Sefton Central and Shadow Minister for Business and Industry, said although she did not win the competition, it was great to meet Jo and see her work recognised.

Mr Esterson said:- "It was great to meet Jo and hear about some of the exciting research she has been undertaking. Jo and her colleagues in their early research careers are the future of STEM in this country. Having this work recognised is well deserved."

Ms Moran said:- "It was fantastic to be able to talk to politicians about my work and show them why research is so important. There was so much amazing research being presented, it was really an honour to take part."

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee runs the event in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Biology, The Physiological Society and the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, with financial support from Dyson, Clay Mathematics Institute, United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Society of Chemical Industry, the Nutrition Society, Institute of Biomedical Science, the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research, the Biochemical Society and IEEE UK and Ireland Section.

UK parents say lockdown Home Schooling has made them smarter

BRITISH parents say they are now more intelligent because of lockdown Home Schooling, with 31% admitting they learnt new things while helping their children. When Schools closed, millions of parents were suddenly forced to take on a teaching role in their homes, but despite the challenges, new research1 by Oxford Home Schooling has found that many adults have come out of it feeling smarter than before. 11% say home education has made them brainer than they were pre-Pandemic and 28% are now more confident helping their children with School work. In fact, 49% of UK parents say they now feel comfortable supporting with homework, which is a significant increase from a few years ago (33%).  During lockdown, men and women were equally likely to Home School, but despite mums learning the most new things (34% vs 28%), dads are more likely to feel that they have become more intelligent (12% v 9%).  Age is also a factor, with millennial parents (25 to 34's) the most likely generation to believe that Home Schooling has made them smarter.  Across the UK, adults in Southampton benefitted the most from the Home Schooling experience, with 26% feeling cleverer as a result. The UK Cities where parents are most likely to feel that Home Schooling made them smarter are:-

1 Southampton 26%
2 Birmingham 16%
3 Manchester 15%
4 Sheffield 13%
5 Liverpool 11%
6 London 11%
7 Leeds 8%
8 Belfast 7%
9 Newcastle 7%
10 Nottingham 6%

Greg Smith, Head of Operations at Oxford Home Schooling, said:- "Home Schooling can be a really positive experience for both parents and children, and although the situation was thrust unexpectedly upon many families during lockdown, it's great to see that lots of people have learnt something from it. To see if you've grown more intelligent since Home Schooling, why not test yourself on some primary School homework questions in our new quiz? Almost 9 in 10 parents can't get them all right!"

For more information about the research and to test yourself on primary School homework questions, visit:-  OxfordHomeSchooling.Co.UK.